# Best Bike Locks: the stierproducts tier list - Source: https://stierproducts.com/categories/bike-locks - Last researched: 2026-08-21T09:06:48.597Z - Products ranked: 13 - Method: https://stierproducts.com/methodology - Reuse: Text, rankings, tier assignments, LP values and verdicts are free to quote and reuse with attribution to stierproducts and a link to the source URL (CC BY 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Product photographs are not covered: they belong to their respective owners and are reproduced to illustrate the product being reviewed. Do not redistribute them under this licence. U-locks, chains and folding bike locks; smart door locks are separate. ## Summary The Litelok X1 is the best bike lock for most people. It is the only S tier product on our bike locks board, ranked across independent research runs over current expert reviews, and it earns that place on value: a hardened steel shackle and high-security U-lock design at a weight and cost that reviewers found hard to beat. The A tier runners-up are the OnGuard RockSolid and the OnGuard RockSolid 8590. If angle-grinder resistance is your first worry, pick the OnGuard RockSolid, which reviewers rated the strongest U-lock against grinders while staying light. If you want a folding lock from a long-established brand, the Abus Bordo Granit in B tier is the safe choice. Avoid the Abus U-Grip Bordo, in F tier. ## Ranking | Rank | Product | Brand | Tier | LP | Outlets | Verdict | Page | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 1 | Litelok X1 | Litelok | S | 896 | 35 | Relative value proposition attractive despite not being the absolute top performer. | https://stierproducts.com/products/litelok-x1 | | 2 | OnGuard RockSolid | OnGuard | A | 803 | 12 | Strongest U-lock against angle grinders, low weight and excellent value. | https://stierproducts.com/products/onguard-rocksolid | | 3 | OnGuard RockSolid 8590 | OnGuard | A | 745 | 2 | Performance in the YouTube test demonstrates effectiveness against common attack methods. | https://stierproducts.com/products/onguard-rocksolid-8590 | | 4 | Abus Bordo Granit | Abus | B | 551 | 6 | Solid choice with good reputation, favorably appearing in testing and user recommendations. | https://stierproducts.com/products/abus-bordo-granit | | 5 | Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 | Abus | B | 542 | 7 | The Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 fails to deliver on its high-end claim, offering vulnerability to cutting tools and lacking long-term reliability, which makes it a poor value proposition. | https://stierproducts.com/products/abus-granit-super-extreme-2500 | | 6 | Hiplok DX1000 | Hiplok | C | 426 | 13 | YouTube testing highlights robust security features and resistance to force. | https://stierproducts.com/products/hiplok-dx1000 | | 7 | Kryptonite New York U-Lock | Kryptonite | C | 366 | 7 | Recognizable brand with decent protection, though not as highly praised as some competitors. | https://stierproducts.com/products/kryptonite-new-york-u-lock | | 8 | Litelok X3 | Litelok | D | 335 | 22 | The X3 offers a higher security rating than the X1 while maintaining a lightweight design. Its proven resistance to angle grinders and solid warranty give owners confidence in its long-term performance. | https://stierproducts.com/products/litelok-x3 | | 9 | Kryptonite New York Diamond | Kryptonite | D | 301 | 7 | This U-lock is praised for its high security rating and robust construction. While heavier, it provides reliable protection that holds up over many years of use, making it a solid pick for high-risk areas. | https://stierproducts.com/products/kryptonite-new-york-diamond | | 10 | Seatylock Foldylock Forever | Seatylock | D | 257 | 7 | Performance doesn’t justify the price for many users. | https://stierproducts.com/products/seatylock-foldylock-forever | | 11 | OnGuard 8020 Mastiff | OnGuard | D | 251 | 2 | The OnGuard 8020 Mastiff offers lower security due to a thinner shackle and higher failure rates, making it an inferior choice compared to newer models. | https://stierproducts.com/products/onguard-8020-mastiff | | 12 | Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 | Kryptonite | D | 247 | 2 | Community discourages relying on this lock type due to inadequate protection. | https://stierproducts.com/products/kryptonite-evolution-mini-7 | | 13 | Abus U-Grip Bordo | Abus | F | 177 | 1 | This lock is highlighted for its heavy-duty steel shackle and excellent resistance to cutting tools. Its long warranty and proven durability make it a dependable choice for riders who need maximum protection without excessive weight. | https://stierproducts.com/products/abus-u-grip-bordo | ## Flagged as ones to avoid These entered one or more research runs as a product buyers cross-shop but should not buy, rather than as a pick. - Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 (#5, B tier): flagged by 1 of 5 runs. - Hiplok DX1000 (#6, C tier): flagged by 1 of 6 runs. - Kryptonite New York U-Lock (#7, C tier): flagged by 1 of 7 runs. - Litelok X3 (#8, D tier): flagged by 1 of 2 runs. - Kryptonite New York Diamond (#9, D tier): flagged by 1 of 2 runs. - Seatylock Foldylock Forever (#10, D tier): flagged by 2 of 3 runs. - OnGuard 8020 Mastiff (#11, D tier): flagged by 2 of 6 runs. - Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 (#12, D tier): flagged by 4 of 7 runs. - Abus U-Grip Bordo (#13, F tier): flagged by 2 of 6 runs. ## Frequently asked questions ### U-lock, chain or folding lock: which type should you buy? Buy a U-lock unless you have a specific reason not to. U-locks give the most cutting resistance per gram and they fill the top of our board: the Litelok X1, the OnGuard RockSolid and the OnGuard RockSolid 8590 are all U-locks. A chain lock wraps around awkward objects and suits e-bikes and cargo bikes, which is why reviewers name the Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 for e-bikes, but chains are heavy. Folding locks like the Abus Bordo Granit are compact and easy to carry, and the Abus one is the only folding lock on our board that reviewers trust for resistance to cutting tools. ### Which bike locks resist an angle grinder? On our board the OnGuard RockSolid is the lock reviewers rate best against an angle grinder, and it is light for a high-security U-lock. The Litelok X3 is also noted for proven grinder resistance, though it costs more than the Litelok X1 for a marginal gain. Be careful with claims: the Kryptonite New York U-Lock can be cut with a handheld grinder in under a minute, and the Abus U-Grip Bordo gives way to a high-power grinder. No lock is grinder-proof. A grinder-resistant lock buys time and noise, which is usually enough to move a thief to an easier bike. ### Which bike lock brand is the most reliable? OnGuard has the strongest record on our board, with two A tier U-locks, the OnGuard RockSolid and the OnGuard RockSolid 8590. Abus has the widest reputation, and the Abus Bordo Granit is a dependable B tier pick, but the Abus U-Grip Bordo sits in F tier, so the brand name alone does not guarantee a good lock. Litelok holds the top spot with the Litelok X1. Judge by the model, not the badge. ### Is a Kryptonite bike lock still a good buy? Kryptonite is the most searched bike lock brand, but it does not rank well on our board. The Kryptonite New York U-Lock is the best of them in C tier: thick shackle, decent protection, but reviewers cut it with a handheld angle grinder in under a minute and questioned its long-term durability. The Kryptonite New York Diamond and the Kryptonite Evolution Mini-7 both sit in D tier. For the same kind of money the Litelok X1 or the OnGuard RockSolid is the better buy. ### What is the best bike lock for an e-bike? An e-bike is worth more and is a bigger target, so buy the most resistant lock you will actually carry. The Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 is the chain lock reviewers name for e-bikes, and Bicycling Magazine called it the best lock for e-bikes, but it sits in B tier because some testers found it vulnerable to angle grinders and doubted its long-term reliability. A lighter option is the OnGuard RockSolid, the grinder-resistant U-lock in A tier. Many riders lock an e-bike with two different locks so a thief needs two tools. ### What does a Sold Secure rating mean on a bike lock? Sold Secure is an independent UK testing scheme that grades locks Bronze, Silver, Gold and Diamond by how long they survive set attacks with escalating tools. Insurers often require a Gold or Diamond lock for a claim on a bike over a certain value, so check your policy. On our board the Seatylock Foldylock Forever carries a Gold rating and the Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 carries the highest rating, but both rank mid or low because the rating does not capture weight, price or real-world grinder time. Treat the rating as a floor, not a verdict. ### How do you lock a bike properly? Lock the frame, not just a wheel, to a fixed object that cannot be lifted over or cut. Put the shackle through the rear triangle and the rear wheel if it reaches, and fill the shackle so there is no room to fit a jack or lever. Keep the lock off the ground and the keyway facing down so it is harder to attack. A second lock of a different type, such as a folding lock like the Abus Bordo Granit with a U-lock like the Litelok X1, forces a thief to carry two tools. ### How long does a bike lock last and what fails first? A good U-lock lasts many years, and reviewers single out the Kryptonite New York Diamond for holding up over years of use. What fails first is usually the mechanism, not the steel: keys stick, cylinders seize from grit and water, and shackle coatings wear through. Reviewers questioned the long-term reliability of the Abus Granit Super Extreme 2500 and the Kryptonite New York U-Lock, and the OnGuard 8020 Mastiff showed higher failure rates in lab tests. Pick a lock with a long warranty, which is one reason the Litelok X3 and the Abus U-Grip Bordo get credit even where they rank low. ### How do you care for a bike lock in the rain? Keep the cylinder dry and lubricated. A dry PTFE or graphite lubricant in the keyway every few months stops grit from binding the pins, and a drop of light oil on the shackle ends stops rust where the coating is worn. Store the lock keyway down so water runs out. Locks without weather sealing suffer most, and reviewers flagged the Seatylock Foldylock Forever for having none, so if you leave a lock outside all year prefer a sealed keyway. ### What should you avoid when buying a bike lock? Avoid cable locks and thin shackles: anything cut by hand tools is a deterrent only. Avoid paying a premium for a small security gain, which is the complaint reviewers make about the Kryptonite New York Diamond, the Litelok X3 and the Seatylock Foldylock Forever. Avoid the Abus U-Grip Bordo, our F tier lock, which reviewers found could be broken by simple tools. And avoid buying on brand name alone, because the top of our board is the Litelok X1, not the most searched brand. ## Tier meanings - S: Exceptional. Finishes top run after run; capped at 3 slots per category. - A: Excellent. Strongly recommended, beaten only by the very best. - B: Good. A solid choice with real caveats worth knowing. - C: Fair. Acceptable in the right situation, outclassed at its price. - D: Weak. Hard to recommend when better options cost similar money. - F: Avoid. The evidence points you elsewhere. ## How to read this - Each category is researched in four independent runs, one per lens (expert consensus, value, reliability, community pulse). Every run ranks a board of candidates that deliberately includes products buyers cross-shop but should avoid. Placements score on a ranked ladder (LP), and tiers are derived from LP, so no tier is ever assigned by hand. - LP is the product's points on this category's ladder. It is comparable within a category and not across categories. - Outlets is how many distinct outlets are cited for that placement. The per-product page lists each citation, and shows which of their links were fetched and confirmed before publishing. - Nothing is hidden: every product the research placed is on this board.